WOLVES 43 COVENTRY 47
WOLVES: BEES:
M.Karlsson 2 2 E 0 4 G.Hancock 3 3 1 2'1 10(1)
J.Staechmann 1'1 1'3 2 8(2) A.Jonsson F 0 1'0 1(1)
P.Hurry 3 2 2 2 2 0 11 B.Andersen 0 3 3 3 9
G.Stancl Rider Replacement St.Robson 2 0 1 3 6
P.Karlsson 2 2 3 1 2 10 B.Hamill 3 3 3 3 3 15
R.Juul 3 1'1'1'2'1'1' 10(6) Sc.Robson 1'0 0 1(1)
C.Taylor 0 0 0 0 S.Tacey 2 1 2 X 0 5
HEAT DETAILS:
Ht 1:Hancock, M.Karlsson, Staechmann, Jonsson(f), 59.0 3-3 3-3
Ht 2:Juul, Tacey, Sc.Robson, Taylor(f), 60.9 3-3 6-6
Ht 3:Hurry, St.Robson, Staechmann, Andersen, 59.8 4-2 10-8
Ht 4:Hamill, P.Karlsson, Tacey, Taylor, 58.9 2-4 12-12
Ht 5:Hancock, Hurry, Juul, Jonsson, 58.8 3-3 15-15
Ht 6:Hamill, M.Karlsson, Staechmann, Sc.Robson, 58.6 3-3 18-18
Ht 7:Andersen, P.Karlsson, Juul, St.Robson(f,rem), 59.0 3-3 21-21
Ht 8:Staechmann, Tacey, Jonsson, Taylor, 59.2 3-3 24-24
Ht 9:Hamill, Hurry, Juul, Sc.Robson, 58.8 3-3 27-27
Ht10:Andersen, Staechmann, St.Robson, M.Karlsson(ef), 59.0 2-4 29-31
Ht11:P.Karlsson, Juul, Hancock, Jonsson, 58.6 5-1 34-32
Ht12:Andersen, Hurry, Juul, Tacey(f,exc), 59.1 3-3 37-35
Ht13:Hamill, Hancock, P.Karlsson, M.Karlsson, 58.5 1-5 38-40
Ht14:St.Robson, Hurry, Juul, Tacey, 59.1 3-3 41-43
Ht15:Hamill, P.Karlsson, Hancock, Hurry, 87.8 2-4 43-47
AS BILLY HAMILL WALKED THE track about an hour before the meeting, a foolish Wolves fan shouted over the fence, "Another five tonight, please Billy!" Hamill acknowledged this, then followed the instruction, but, unfortunately for Wolves, didn't stop at five, but added another ten in a brilliant maximum that underlined just why Colin Pratt made the team changes he did, and just why this is now an extremely powerful Coventry outfit.
Hamill wasn't the only star of the night, with fellow American Greg Hancock also playing a prominent role, and lady luck for once smiling on Brian Andersen, who recovered from a dismal first ride to score three straight wins. Stuart Robson and Shaun Tacey, too, scored vital points, with the former's win in Heat 14 so valuable, as it took the pressure right off for the last race.
As always, one of the highlights of a win at Wolves was the stick handed out to the centre green presenter, who began the meeting by loudly banging the Wolves drum, but by the end was reduced to commenting "I bet you're glad Billy Hamill returned to British Speedway." However, I never did hear him answer the question posed by the banner held aloft at various stages in the meeting, "Porky, what's the score?"
Bees actually provided no less than eleven race winners in this gripping encounter, but Wolves generally managed to pack the minor places, especially Richard Juul who picked up no less than six bonus points. But they didn't have the top end strength to compete in the big races, with the Karlsson brothers, especially Mikael, rather disappointing.
Hancock made a great start to close Mikael Karlsson down in Heat 1, and a mistake by guest Jan Staechmann going into the final lap looked to have given Andreas Jonsson a point. But Coventry's young Swede is no fan of Monmore, and took the wrong line going into the last corner and slid off on the bumpy surface to give the point back to the Dane.
Wolves gated in Heat 2, but Craig Taylor, who could be World Champion if points were awarded for crashing, came to grief to throw away at least one point. Tacey worked his way up to challenge Juul, and got inside him to take the lead on the last lap. Again, however, the last corner struck, and Tacey got everything locked up to allow Juul back through for the win, with Wolves rueing Taylor's fall which had given an off-the-pace Scott Robson a point.
The alarm bells were ringing in Heat 3, as although Stuart Robson did well in a difficult first bend to get into second place - and briefly challenge Paul Hurry - Brian Andersen went from first to last on the second bend, and then tailed off well at the back despite Staechmann making a number of mistakes in third place. However, Bees were soon back level, with Hamill and Tacey gating in Heat 4. Peter Karlsson managed to split them, but Hamill had escaped just in time and recorded his first Bees win of the season. Tacey easily hung on to third ahead of Taylor.
Heats 5 and 6 were shared, both featuring wins for Hancock and Hamill, with the times getting progressively quicker, and then Andersen came to life in winning Heat 7 ahead of Peter Karlsson, after Stuart Robson had slid off coming out of the second bend, and, fortunately, not been hit by the pursuing Juul.
The scores were still level, and Staechmann came up with an important win for Wolves in Heat 8. Tacey and Jonsson produced some unusual team-riding given that Taylor was well behind, and with hindsight it may have been better for Wolves to give Juul this race, and put Taylor out against Scott Robson in Heat 9. As it was, that race was shared as well with Hamill reeling off his third win, and Hurry and Juul easily good enough for Robson.
The first nine heats had been interesting, but the last six produced some thrilling action, with plenty of twists and turns. Andersen gated in Heat 10, but Mikael Karlsson drove through on the inside. Just as he was completing the pass, his bike spluttered to a halt, and what looked like being a Wolves 4-2 was reversed and Bees were in front for the first time.
Hancock made a dreadful start from the outside in Heat 11, and as Peter Karlsson moved into the lead, Juul rose to the occasion to join him up front. It took Hancock a couple of laps to get into a challenging position, because Jonsson was in his way, but it was still all credit to Juul that he managed to repel the attack, especially Hancock's desperate dive around the outside on the last bend. This most unexpected Wolves 5-1 had the home fans on their feet, and perhaps made them slight favourites.
Hancock having failed from gate 4 in Heat 11, Andersen made a similarly poor start to Heat 12, and then found himself with nowhere at all to go as Hurry, Juul and Tacey made it at roughly the same time. As they sorted themselves out, it looked like Wolves would be on for a heat advantage at least, but Tacey went too wide coming out of turn 2 and smashed through the fence, fortunately without injury. After a lengthy delay, Andersen rode a captain's race with a much better start, and he was victorious in a battle with Hurry that saw them wheel-to-wheel for two laps.
Heat 13 was always going to be the clash of the titans, and how often have Wolves been haunted by Greg Hancock and Billy Hamill? They made brilliant starts, and as Hancock pinned Mikael Karlsson to the inside, Hamill swept round the outside, and the two produced a masterful display of team-riding to keep out the Karlssons and put Bees two-up, and guarantee at least a last-heat decider, when, of course, they would be out again!
With Hurry and Juul facing Robson and Tacey, Coventry would have taken anything out of Heat 14 as a bonus, but it went better than they could have hoped for as Robson made the start of his life to get the better of Hurry. Although Tacey was at the back, probably shaken from his crash, and on his second bike, Robbo rode a perfectly judged and controlled race to ensure a shared heat, and leave the odds stacked against Wolves for Heat 15.
It would have been interesting to see if Wolves would have picked Mikael Karlsson for the race had they been allowed to, but they had no real option other than to pair Hurry with Peter Karlsson. The start was always going to be vital, and again it was Hamill who made it from gate 3. Hancock just missed the start, but was content to squeeze into third place on the first bend ahead of Hurry, and after Hamill had repelled Peter Karlsson's first-lap challenge, the only worrying moment for Bees fans was whether Hamill would remember that it was 6 laps! He did, and was still pulling away at the end of the race, crowning a display that proved once and for all that the Bullet is Back!
A number of Wolves fans were most unimpressed, especially that Mikael Karlsson had scored 20 in a guest booking on Saturday, but of course the difference on this occasion was that the Wolves top riders, good though they are, were up against real top-class stars. The Monmore men have suffered badly from injury this season, but they could hardly complain about the contributions of their guests, and after a dreadful start to the season, it really does look like Bees, now with the side that Colin Pratt always wanted to track, are set to challenge for honours on all fronts this season. The Craven Shield table now makes interesting reading, with Bees more than in the hunt, but they will face a stern test against Poole at Brandon on Saturday.